As a cancer survivor, actress Fran Drescher long ago joined the fight against the deadly disease. Her organization, Cancer Schmancer, looks to reduce female cancer mortality rates through prevention and early diagnosis. (The actress was acknowledged in the Congressional Record for her work on H.R. 1245, the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005.)

Drescher is in town Wednesday to join "Real Housewives of DC" cast member Mary Amons, hairstylist Ted Gibson and designer Marc Bouwer for a fashion show that will raise funds for the early detection of cancer. Part of the program will also pay tribute to Elizabeth Edwards, who passed away in December after a battle with cancer.

"She was a lovely woman — brave and dignified and intelligent," Drescher told POLITICO. "I think that part of the legacy that she leaves behind is to have courage but to also teach us how important early detection is, and that's what Cancer Schmancer is all about. She was diagnosed with breast cancer quite late, and the reason that we lose loved ones to cancer more often than not is due to late stage cancer diagnosis."

Another well-known cancer survivor, Lance Armstrong, was recently in Washington to encourage Congress not to cut funding for cancer research. Drescher said she's more concerned with preventing cancer in the first place.

"I think of the trillions of dollars that they've put into cancer research since President Nixon waged the war, and we've benefitted from that research in the sense of being able to live longer with chronic cancer. But it does worry me that there is only a sliver of money by comparison that's actually [used for] prevention, education and awareness."